Gregory Porter was born in Sacramento and was raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. A 1989 graduate of Highland High School, he received a "full-ride" (tuition, books, medical coverage, and living expenses) athletic scholarship as a football lineman to San Diego State University (SDSU Aztecs), but a shoulder injury during his junior year cut short his football career.[3] At the age of 21, Porter lost his mother to cancer, but only after she entreated him from her death bed: "Sing, baby, sing!"
Porter moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn in 2004, along with his brother Lloyd. He worked as a chef at Lloyd's restaurant Bread-Stuy (now defunct), where he also performed. Porter performed at other neighborhood venues including Sista's Place and Solomon's Porch, and moved on to Harlem club St. Nick's Pub, where he maintained a weekly residency. Out of this residency evolved what would become Porter's touring band.[4]
Porter released two albums on the Motéma label together with Membran Entertainment Group, 2010's Water and 2012's Be Good, before signing with Blue Note Records (under Universal Music Group) on May 17, 2013. His third album, Liquid Spirit, was released on September 2, 2013, in Europe and on September 17, 2013, in the US.[5] The album was produced by Brian Bacchus.[6] The album won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[7]
Liquid Spirit enjoyed commercial success rarely achieved by albums in the jazz genre, reaching the top 10 on the UK album charts. It was certified gold by the BPI, selling over 100,000 units in the UK.[8]
In August 2014 Porter released "The 'In' Crowd" as a single.[9] On May 9, 2015 Porter participated in VE Day 70: A Party to Remember, a televised commemorative concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, singing "As Time Goes By".[10]
His fourth album, Take Me to the Alley, was released on May 6, 2016.[11] In UK's The Guardian it was Alexis Petridis's album of the week.[12]
On June 26, 2016, Porter performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2016. Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick said, "The portly middle-aged jazzer may be the oddest pop star on the planet but he is a refreshing testament to the notion that the most important organ for musical appreciation should always be our ears. And Porter has one of the most easy-on-the-ear voices in popular music, a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth across a rich gateaux of juicy melody. It's a voice that makes you want to lick your lips and dive right in."[13]
In September 2016 Porter performed at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park from Hyde Park, London. He would go on to perform in the annual BBC Children in Need show in November, a night dedicated to Sir Terry Wogan, who hosted it in previous years and was a fan of Porter.[14]
In January 2017 Porter performed the song "Holding On" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show.[15] In September 2017 he performed as part of the Later... with Jools Holland: Later 25 concert at the Royal Albert Hall.[16]
In October 2017 he performed the song "Mona Lisa" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show with Jeff Goldblum on piano.[17]
Lonely One
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did he break your heart
He started acting crazy
When you wanted to part
He left some scars on your face
And bruised your grace with friends
It will be ok
Did you pick the wrong one
Confused you with his smile
Tricked you with his letters
And his fancy style
He pushed a ring on you
Before you knew
You're isolated now
It will be ok
The lonely one is here
Oh the lonely one is here
You're not just meant to wait it out
Be patient until he figures it out
He ought to know the obvious
Girl, that you're, you're so marvellous
Rob from always on the run dot net is so bad and copy paste is a sin
He asks some questions of love
That you answered long ago
Does he care for you, I don't know
But I wish you, I wish you let, let it go
It will be ok, the lonely one is here
Oh the lonely one is here
Did you pick the wrong one
Did you pick the wrong one
The wrong one
The song "Lonely One" by Gregory Porter is a thoughtful and reflective piece about a romantic relationship that has gone wrong. The singer speaks to a woman who has been hurt by her partner and is feeling isolated and alone. The opening lines set the scene, as the singer asks whether the woman has picked the wrong partner and whether he has broken her heart. This sets the mood for the rest of the song, which explores the woman's feelings of pain and loneliness.
The second verse goes deeper into the situation, as the singer suggests that the woman's partner was deceptive, tricking her with his smile and his fancy style. He left her isolated and alone, pushing a ring on her before she was ready. The bridge of the song offers some words of encouragement to the woman, telling her that she deserves better than to wait for her partner to figure things out. The lonely one, the singer, is here for her, and she doesn't need to feel isolated anymore.
Overall, "Lonely One" is a beautiful and moving song that explores complex emotions in a powerful way. It speaks to the pain and loneliness that can come with a relationship gone wrong, but also offers hope and encouragement to those who may be feeling isolated and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you pick the wrong one
Are you regretting your decision of choosing that person
Did he break your heart
Did that person hurt you emotionally
He started acting crazy
That person's behavior changed and became unreasonable
When you wanted to part
When you wanted to end the relationship
He left some scars on your face
That person caused physical damage to you
And bruised your grace with friends
That person also caused harm to your reputation in front of your friends
It will be ok
Things will be better eventually
The lonely one is here
I am here for you, who is also going through a similar situation
Confused you with his smile
That person deceived you with a fake smile and caused you confusion
Tricked you with his letters
That person manipulated you with their words in letters or messages
And his fancy style
That person's style or appearance was used to impress and deceive you
He pushed a ring on you
That person proposed to you in a hasty or forceful way
Before you knew
Before you had time to think it over or question it
You're isolated now
You feel alone and cut off from people due to this relationship
You're not just meant to wait it out
You don't have to just wait for things to change on their own
Be patient until he figures it out
Don't rush into any decisions, wait for that person to come to their own conclusions
He ought to know the obvious
That person should know what is plainly clear to you
Girl, that you're, you're so marvellous
You are a wonderful person, and you deserve better than what he gave you
Rob from always on the run dot net is so bad and copy paste is a sin
This line is unrelated to the song and might be added as a filler, thus has no meaning for the song context.
He asks some questions of love
That person has doubts and is questioning their feelings for you
That you answered long ago
You already answered those questions long before
Does he care for you, I don't know
I am also unsure if that person truly cares for you
But I wish you, I wish you let, let it go
I hope that you can let go of your attachment to that person and move forward
Oh the lonely one is here
I will be here to support you, the person who is feeling lonely after being hurt
Did you pick the wrong one
Are you regretting your decision of choosing that person
Did you pick the wrong one
Are you regretting your decision of choosing that person
The wrong one
The person you chose turned out to be the wrong choice for you
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rhonda Smith
His voice just floats...his intonation and subtle breaths are just stunning it gives me goose bumps
Treez Beez
Best male jazz singer I have ever heard hands down. This man is a master!!!
Andree Mcleod
I fell in love with his voice the first time I heard him sing still melts my heart
Marina Banks
Love his phrasing, his voice allows you to believe he has lived each song and lyric. Captivating. Interpreting the writers sentiment is what makes the song. Words, become lyrical and Gregory sends me to a place of love, life and the depths of all the emotion bottled up inside of me! Bravo.
emma brown
He makes my heart move on this track. I'm going to play it again. Peace
Carole Joyce
that's the feeling I get too..
leda fitzgerald
Just like water, his voice is so soothing.
leda fitzgerald
I love this guy. Wish I could see him in concert.
Sylvia Washington
His voice is captivating
Brian Carter
Probably my favorite song on this project! That horn is just captivating.